ZOOLOGY, BIBLICAL. [BEAsis.1 ZOPHAR sparrow ? Sept. ZcoOcep), one of Job's three friends and opponents in argument (Job ii. 1r ; xi. ; xx. ; xlii. 9). He is called a Naamathite, or inhabitant of Naamah, a place whose situation is unknown, as it could not be the Naamah mentioned in Josh. xv. Wemyss, in his yob and his Times (p. well characterises this interlocutor :—` Zophar exceeds the other two, if possible, in severity of censure ; he is the most inveterate of the accusers, and speaks without feeling or pity. He does little more than repeat and exag,Yerate the arguments of Bildad. He un feelingly 'alludes (chap. xi. 15) to the effects of Job's disease as appearing in his countenance. This is cruel and invidious. Yet in the same dis course how nobly does he treat of the divine attributes, showing that any inquiry into them is far beyond the grasp of the human mind ! And though the hortatory part of the first discourse bears some resemblance to that of Elipbaz, yet it is diversified by the fine ima,gery which he employs.
He seems to have had a full conviction of the pro vidence of God, as regulating and controlling the actions of men; but he limits all his reasoninos to a present life, and makes no reference to afuture world. This circumstance alone accounts for the weakness and fallacy of these men's judg-ments. In his second discourse there is much poetical beauty in the selection of images, and the general doctrine is founded in truth ; its fallacy lies in its application to Job's peculiar case. The whole indicates great warmth of temper, inflamed by misapprehension ;of its object, and by mistaken zeal.' It is to be obsen•ed that Zophar has but two speeches, whereas the others have thrce each. When Job had replied (ch. xxvi.-xxxi.) to the short address of Bildad (ch. xxv.), a rejoinder might have been expected from Zophar ; but he said nothing, the three friends, by common con sent, then giving up thc contest in despair (ch. xxxii. r) [Jon].—J.